The Chiesa di San Francesco is a wonder to behold!  We happened to pop in, just as a small tour was about to begin, and we were asked to join them.  It only took a moment or two for both, Susan and me, to agree to accompany the group around the church.  And I am so glad that we did!  The church is so ornately decorated that one isn’t certain where to look.  Having a guide helped, as at least this way, our eyes were directed to certain areas, or pieces of art.  We were also taken into the crypt, where you can see bones piled up, if you look through a window.  Having first opened its doors in 1849, the Teatro Garibaldi is a tiny gem of a theater, set along the lungomare.  The door to the theater was open, and when we peeked in, the two women working inside invited us to come in, and see the lovely space for ourselves.  Nearby, the courtyard of the Ex Collegio Gesuiti was a charming, quiet spot, which made one feel as if time had stood still.  But, with the sea so close, it’s difficult to resist taking a leisurely stroll along the lungomare, and so, that is just what we did.Even the trash cans are decorated in Mazara del Vallo!Before long, we came upon the lovely little Church of San Vito A Mare!  Inside the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo, one now finds the Museo Mirabilia Urbis, a small but intriguing collection of art and artifacts.

Next up: a visit to the ancient Greek city of Selinunte, plus more from Mazara del Vallo!

Note: this blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations which may appear.